MORE RACING 185 



In 1887 the recriment was sent to Ireland, head- 

 quarters at Cahir, with a squadron at Limerick, 

 one of the finest hunting counties in the United 

 Kinu^dom, and one where some great horses were 

 bred. When I was there I managed to pick up 

 some real good ones, of which one purchased at 

 a fair for ;!^40 stands out prominently. I named 

 him Wellington. There was no pedigree to 

 follow for nomenclature, but he had the look 

 that Ascetic stamped on his stock and I ex- 

 pect that he was his sire. He was registered as 

 my first charger, and I mention this Hict as there 

 was a reoimental order that first charo-ers were 

 not to be steeplechased. As he proved himself a 

 good horse, having won point-to-point and regi- 

 mental races, I hoped that no exception would be 

 made to running him at Punchestown. Previous 

 to that meeting the late Colonel Crichton had 

 placed at our disposal his private steeplechase 

 course at Mullaboden. Here we held our reoi- 

 mental races, where I was fortunate enough to win 

 three events, Wellington winning two of them. 



Having so far escaped censure from the CO. 

 for infrinofinor his rule, I entered Wellinoton for 

 the Irish Military steeplechase, three and three- 

 quarter miles, worth ;^i50, at Punchestown. A 

 week before the races I was informed by the 

 Adjutant that the Colonel had instructed him that 



